Vacuum can seamer



' Nov. 21, 1944. A. s. HOPKINS VACUUM CAN SEAMER med Dec. 14, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 m n mm M MR? VACUUM CAN SEAMER Filed Dec. 14, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR l ///7///// ARTHUR G HOPKINS I BY ( ATTORNEYS Nov. 21, 1944. A, a. HOPKINS 2,363,243

VACUUM CAN SEAMER Filed Dec. 14, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.4

' I \& /7/////// A INVENTOR ARTHUR 6. HOPKINS W ATTORNEYS Nov. 21, 1944.

all

10 Sheets-Sheet 4 so 1% L k 1 IV/ F E i AA i 82 v I 5 a4 5 .l g :11 g

' i i i INVENTOR YARTHUR G. HOPKINS A ,4 W K ATTORNEYS 1944' A. s. HOPKINS vAcimm cm SEAMER Fil ed Dec. 14. 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet. 7

INVENTOR ARTHUR G. HOPKINS ATTORNEYS NOV. 21, 1944. Q A Hop s 2,363,248

VACUUM CAN SEAMER Filed D60. 14, 1940 10 Shets-Sheei 8 as J INVENTOR ARTHUR 6. Ho PK INS 5 ATTORNEYS Nov. 21, 1944. A opkms 2,363,248

VACUUM CAN 'SEAMER Filed Dec. 14, 1940 10 Shets-Sheet 9- fsz Fig. '20

INVENTOR ARTHUR G. HoPmus I M' M A1TORNEY$ Nov. 21, 1944. A. G. HOPKINS VACUUM CAN SEAMER Filed Dec. 14, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 11 s m K 5 P w Ru -7 m. m a. Na m mm A H T m Patented Nov. 1944 VACUUM cANisEAMER v Ar thin G; Hopkins, Maspeth', N. 'Y.', .ass'i-gnor to r National Can Corporation, New "York, N91,. a

Application This invention relates to can: seaming rma chines, and more particularly toapparatus; for

completely double-seaming cans t und'er vacuum in a single machine.

, The primary object ofmy inventionds tween- .erally improve vacuum can seaming apparatus.-

Modern vacuum cans are highly vacuumizedeso that a dryproduct, iorexample ,rccfiee, wiil be corporat m I I December 14,',19 4.o.-ser1ia1 No- 370,130 (Cl. 113-44 ,eapsto-such jaws tangentially, and v in accordance mithaiurther feature and object of the invena tion, the caps are delivered to the jaws by means of a vertically reoiprocable elevator which receives thecaps ata higher elevation and lowers the some to the ,jawsas the jaws sweep past the ,elevator. I

pulled completely out of the can 11111635113118 :cover' is held securely and with a fairly tig-htfit during jo vacuumizationr With liquids, or-solidsin liquids, thereis-somewhat less difficulty, as thereis less airapresent ,in the can,- .buteven.then it .is -im' portant'to hold then-cover ,firmlyon the can because if some of the content is drawnYbetween the can edge and cover, .a vdefective:seamlv-will be produced. The most common prior practice ,siizig'le spindle and'moved by a single .cam' follower,

,myettheleap is advanced relative to the can in isto. seam the cani two distinct andseparated operations. -.In the first operation, performed under atmospheric pressure, .the I cmrervv is ,cur1edabout the edge .of the can enough to hold the Hoover securely on the can. The .curl istight enough to prevent vertical movement of the cover,

. yet is not a real seal because the cover maygiot example, be rotated Jrelative to -the can. ,A'fter;

the can .has been put in thislconditionitgis subjected to vacuum, and iswthen sealed by a fina seaming operation. a i

One primary object of my invention is to order to provide timefor'descentof. the elevator.

,fl'he. transfer turretalsocaiiriesj plungers with tamping platesffpr .t.amping thepontents well into the can prior/to applicationhof the {tap .,.The,tampin plungersare very important when ldealiti'e' witheans h ving .soudalbut, a 'fno necessary and areundesiralo'le when dealing with .canshaving only liquids withoutsolids. ii .feature ,of the present invent on s a s e al mou ing whereby the tamingplungers,together with their bushin s nd cam l ol ow rs ma /a be 'readilybodily rem v d whenfinoj ne d simplify the foregoing procedure by ei'iminating-i preliminary clinching or curling of. the cover, or

from a difierentviewpoint, this object of myth- 'vention'is to successfully vacuumize and idoiible- 'seam a can in a single seaming machine having seaming mechanism substantially the same as,

that commonly used withno'ne-vacuum cans.

" 'Afmore'specific object'isfto place caps "on the filled cans and to hold thegsame firmlyiand reasonably tightly orifthe can for vacuumizin'g prior 'to'seaming. Another more "specific 'ob'jectis to dispense with the need 'for 'an extra turret or =forvacuurnizing the can. With' a vacuum chamher it is common practice to 'use rotary inlet and discharge turrets; or *swca'lled'valves, and in accordance with a feature and object of my" invention, the caps are held on the cans "(and the cans are vacuumizedy during their passage through the inlet valve. I Y fA further object is not to interfere with the 1 normal seaming machine parts, particularly the chuck for engaging and holdin the cap,',:and f accordingly,- "the fmeans for fhold'ingfthe "cap "on [the canduringpassage throughthe inlet valve, prefer'ably comprise jaws which engage only thea;

other such means to produce aspecial time delay 1, Other object; ,of the invention ,centerabout the rotary=.ya 1ve for the vacuum seaming chamber. "Various suggestions have been made for usingspring-pressed or yieldable sealin p ates enga mentwith the a e u r t b t ;I iinditadvantageous to rotate theyalve with a fixed clearance between rigid sea-ling plates; the seal being completed by the use of a continuous oil film orseal between the moving parts. -Another objectis toadapt t he' valve for use with cans of different diameter, andfor this purpose "the outer walls of the valve are provided with inner lining walls oriseal ing walls which may be removedand replaced to accommodate a change can-andturret diam'eter. Another object is I to accommodate the cap, which at this time is "larger' in-diameter than the can. The sealing plate is cut a'wayeor stepped to, receive thev edge I efthe cap, and appropriate -filling strips ar'e pr-oe111 itype' em plolying planetarygearing. at. the top vided to preventlo'ss of vacuum through the re- Other objects v v anism: This mechanism is of a known successof' the: machineidor controllingirthe necessary imovementsmof the turret, the individual seaming side edges of the cap. it is difficult to supplyine" headsj andthe seaming rollers. Additional gearcenter about the seaming mech viding annular. seals to isolate the center. region of the seaming machine,- the uppensall being located below the upper gearing of the machine,

though preferably above the seamingheads, and

the lower seal being provided above the lower gearing andbelow the can tables. there is no interference with normal functioning of the seaming mechanism, nor with the delivcry and discharge of cans to and from the same,-

the entire seaming operation being carried out under vacuum, yet the gearing operates under atmospheric pressure. 1

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and other objects which will hereinafter appear, my

invention consists in the vacuum seaming ma- In this 1 way I chine elements and their relation one to the other, I

as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification-and sought to be defined in;

the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section showing theseaming machine in plan;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram explanatory of .the gearing for driving the turrets associated with the main seaming turret;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the index-.-

ing turret, taken approximately in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; v 1 Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the transfer turret, taken approximately in the plane of'the line 44 of Fig.1; V Fig. 4a is a horizontal section taken approximately in the plane of the line iar-4a of Fig. 4, r

and is explanatory of a detail; I

Fig. 4b is a similar. section, but showing the parts oriented for removal of the ta mping plunger; Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the end feed mechanism, taken approximately in the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 1:' v I Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the inlet valve, taken approximately in the plane of the line 6-45 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 6a and 6b show modifications of adetail ofthevalve; V I ,1

Fig. '7 is a vertical section through the .drive mechanism beneath the inlet valve, taken approximately in the j v Fig. 1; i v

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the vacuum seaming turret,.taken approximately in the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 9 shows the transfer turret and. apart of the inlet valve in plan;

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram explanatory of the operation of the fingers on the transfer turret; Fig. 11 is a plan view of thedepressor jaws of the valve, drawn to enlarged scale;

Fig. 12 is a'vertical section taken approximately in the plane of the-line |-2-l2 of Fig; 11; Fig. 12a. is a horizontal section taken approximately inthe plane of the line l2a-|;2a of Fig.12; Fig. 13 is a vertical section'taken approximately in the plane'of the line l3-| 3 Ofv'FigtQ;

Fig. 14 is'a vertical section taken approximately in the plane of the'line- I l-l4 of, Fig .-l0;-

having yieldable p the jaws;

H Fig., 18 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1'7, looking approximately in the plane of the line I8-l8 of Fig. 17 and (Fig. 9);

Fig. 19 is a section similar to Fig. 17, but showing the relation of the parts an instant later with the jaws removing the cap from the elevator; Fig. 20 is a similar view taken a short time later, and shows the jaws lowered to press the cap on the can, and the elevator raised to clear the rotary valve} v Fig. 21 is a side elevation of th elevator-operating mechanism, taken approximately in the plane of the line 2I2l of Fig. 9;

Fig. 22 illustrates the lower end of a simple form Of elevator having fixed cap supporting fingers;

Fig. 23 is a similar view of a modified elevator spring-pressed cap supporting fingers;

Fig. 24 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 25 is a partially sectioned similar view illustrating a modification having cam-controlled cap supporting fingers, and is taken approximately in the plane of the line 25-25 of Fig. 26; and f Fig. 26 is a partially sectioned side elevation of the double cam control mechanism for the elevator ofFig. 25, this view being taken in substantially the same plane as Fig. 21(i. e., 2l2l ofFig.9).

Referring to the drawingsand more particularly to Fig. 1, the complete seaming apparatus comprises an indexing turret generally designated I, which supplies filled but uncovered cans in properly spaced relation to a transfer turret generally designated T. The latter is provided with plates, not shown in. Fig. 1, but indicated at P in Figs. 4 and 9,for tamping the can contents, and is also provided With cam controlled fingers F. The caps are supplied from a suitable magazine'M by conventional cover feed'mechanism generally designated C. The fingers F of transfer. turretT move the cansand the caps to the inlet valve V. The caps are .received by an elevator, not shown in Fig. 1, but generally designated E inFigs. 9 and 14-20. The elevator delivers the caps downwardly to depressor jaws J carried by the turret of valve V, said jaws holding the cap at its edge. and depressing the same against the top of the can as the can moves the high vacuum in the enclosed vacuum chamber of the main seaming turret S. The cans are subjected to first and second seaming operations in the turret S, and are discharged by wheelW and discharge valveD. I l i The indexing turret Considering the arrangement in greater detail,

and referring first to Figs. 1 and 3, the filled cans I2 are supplied along-a track 14 leading to the indexing turretI. This maybe of conventiona character, and comprises a smooth stationary plate l6 provided-with a spring-pressed guide rail through the valve V and before it is subjected to noes-Ms "-The' disc I6 is cut away at 26 to mate with the periphery-of the transfer turretT, andvthe cans are guided into-the pockets ofthe transfer turret :by the normal action of the indexing wheel aided by a' suitable outside guide: rail 28.

Thev transfer turret. V

The transfer turret T may. be described]with reference ,to Figs.'1 and '4. It comprises. a. turret body' 30 mounted on and: rotated: by 1 a shafti=32. A tamping plate P'is disposed over each of the turret pockets, said plate being carried at the outer end of: an arm 34 mounted at the upper end of anon-circular, in this case: square, plunger -'36.

The phm'ger'36 is reciprocable. in: a bushing '38, .1

saidbushing being cylindrical at its'upper and lower 'ends; though the intermediate part may be cut away, as indicated at III, to save weight. 'Plunger36'carries a ,cam follower roller '42 atits "lower end, said roller projecting radially inwardly into a cam "groove '44 on the periphery Ofasta- "tionarily mounted cylindrical cam 46. It will be evident that as the turret rotates, the tamping 7 plates P' will be lowered from the position shown rat the fight-handside of Fig. 4, tea position as shownat the left-hand side, thus depr'essingthe contents into thecan. f

v When dealing with liquids; it is unnecessary and undesirable to employ thetamping plates 1?, and in such'case, they may be removedby re-;

' leasing the bolts-I8 holding-the flange 50 or the top of the bushing. However, withdrawal of the plungerassembly wouldbe prevented bythe roll- "er 4.2 receivedinthecam groove, and to overcome this difficulty, the plunger is preferably "Theseparatingedg fl of'kn'ife 66 separatesthe lowem 1ost cap from 'the stach'during return or leftwardi return" reciprocation-of the knife. This cap is then delivered from beneatlr'the magazine to a suitablemarker-or printing station 98 bya 'iirst pusher $60 Upon the next reciprocation of theslide-rune markedcap is pushed-by a second pusher-411 2 to a second 'stationywhere it is picked :11p by'the upper feed fingers ofthe transfer turset. Return movement of "the caps is prevented at the 'first station by check fingers-I04, and at the-second station by check fingers I106. :The

mairke'fhasbeen omitted' in'Fig. 5,but is clearly explained that the turret body I-I2 is"c'arrie'd on a I a driving shaft II4. It moveswithin side walls "H6 formed integrally with bottomv wall H8, and

shown at I 08 -in Fig. -1

The inletvalve V is s-hown-in Figs; 1, 6, and 9 A counter IIIII (Fig.5)

may be pr'ovuied tokeep count of the number of cons-seamed in the machine. I

I 1, The rotary inletivaloe" through l2, referring to-whichfigures, it'may be is closed atthe top'by a cover plate I20. The walls I I6 are lined by means of removable sealing plates I22. These may be changed'to accommodatecans of different diameter, without-necessitating a change of the main outside walls of'the valve housing. The lining plates I22 are fixedly mounted on walls IIIi, whichin turn are rigidly "or fixedly'secured to-the'main vacuum seaming eocen-trically mounted in the bushing 38; Thus,

"by rotating the arm approximately ninety de- '-'--grees"-after releasing'thebolts 48, the roller 42 is turnedoutfrom the cam "groove to a position clear-of the cam, as; will be seenby comparison 1.,

f-l'of Figs. 4a and ilw, whereupon the entire assembly readily lifted upwardly out of the turret.

The transfer turret T is also provided with a pair-of fingers/for eachcan pocket; There is a "lower finger 52 for moving the can and an upper "finger54' for moving the cap which is to be placed orrthe can. Both fin'gersare mounted on a single spindle 56 which is" provided at its lower end withacam follower arm 58' carrying a roller .60

Fwhich runs in a cam track 62 formed on theu-ppor surface of a large stationary'plate 64'.

The action of the fingers isdescribed in greater detail later. 7 v

" The cap feed mechanism The cap feeding mechanism C is shown in Figs. 1 and'5. It may be of conventional character, andrequires no detailed description. The caps are stacked ina magazineM, the staok'being supported by a conventional reciprocab-leknife generally'designated 66.

" "by a slide 68 connected byp and 'olmectmg 'rod""I2' to a crank pin I4 on a crank disc 16.. The crank disc is carried at the upperend of a rotatingshaft 'lfl. Thisin turn is driven by a first. "intermediate-shaft 8Il th'rough a suitable pawl 82 which may on occasion be released under the con trol of suitable no can-no cap linkage 84. Shaftflll is driven by a second intermediateshaft 86 through a coupling 81. Shaft 86 is driven-by m lower shaft 88- through appropriate bevel gearingo96...A:ball clutch 9'2may, if desired, ,be in- :serted between shafts and 86, with a'suitable ilimitswitch 94 to cutout the drivingpowerofthe ...-'en-tire. machine in the :event of'xa jam.

chamber. 1

H I The turret body I I2 is accurately finished to a diameter which fits the sealing plates accurately, butwith a small. clearance, say,

several thousandths of an inch. ,The' desired vacuum seal is maintainedbyjintroducing a vissous" oil film between the relatively moving surffaces. Thisimay-be done in any suitable manner,

"asbythe use of a plurality of sight feed oil cups 124. The space IZIiYFig. 6) between thewall H6 "andthe lining plates is, of course, sealed ateither or'both'endsyaswillbe seen at I28 in Fig. 1.

The valve turret I'I2 carries the depressor jaws J forholdin'g a cap firmly on the can as it is being vacuumized'. The jaws are controlled by cam mechanism which maybe described with reference'to-Figs. 6, Hand 12. The leading jaw I30 'is'moun ted at the upper end of a pin I32. The

trailing jaw "I34 is mounted at the upper end of a pm I36. 'Thepins I32 and I36flare connected for [equal opposite movement, as'for example by means of arms I38and I40connected at'a commo'n center I42; If desired, the arm I38 may be 1 provided'with a pin carrying a block 144, which 1 block'is s'lidably-receive'd in a mating slot in arm I-4'0,'thus.compensatingfor'angularity. Itis convenient to form the arm I38 integrally with the 1 law I30',"an-d't0'form the arm I40 integrally with I thejaw-I34, as shown.

j The knifeis reciprocated 7 One of the pins, in this'case the pin l32, is'pro- 'vided"with' an internally received spindle I68, which in-"turn is provided at its lower end with a cam follower arm I46 carryingarollerlfl. Re-

. Jferring to Fig. 12a, it will be seen that counterbored' or sleeve-like pin I32 is prevented from rotating relative to thespindle'lfi8 by means of a I suitable axially extending key IIIIQ Referring now toFig. 6, the roller I48 runs in a cam groove I50 formed onthe upper'surface ofa st'ationarily "mounted cam plate I52. 5' It will be evident that with"this-construction as .so faridescribed, the "jaws may-be opened or closed at appropriate times as the turretrevolves relative to thestationary 1camI52. 1 I a 1 11B: i's alsonecessary to raise and lower'the jaws,

in order to accommodate the caps. leakage through the resulting passage must be and for this purpose, thepins I32 and I 36- (Fig. 12) pass through a block I54 in which they are freely rotatable. However, the pins are prevented ner ends of keys I58. The block I54 carries a cam follower roller I60 which runs in a cam groove I62. In Fig. 6 it will be seen that'it is'convenient to form the cam groove I62 on the adjacent faces of circular plates I64 and IE6, said plates forming a cylindrical cam which is stationarily mounted within the rotating turret II2. It will be evident that as the turret revolves, the jaws are raised and lowered under control of the cam, the vertical movement being accommodated by the sliding relation between the pin I32 and its internally received spindle I 68. It will also be evident that by the use of the two cam movementsdescribed, a four-way motion of the jaws is readily obtainable, with the opening and closing falling movement.

The caps are larger in diameter than the cans. It is desirable to confine the cans against outward movement, thus determining the radius of the valveand sealing platesbut it is then desirable to cut away or step the sealing plates near the upper edge thereof, as is indicated at I12 (Fig. 6) Of course,

ness for the wear strip by cutting away the valve turret as well as the side wall, thus leading to a construction as is indicated in Fig. 6, in which. the turret is flanged outwardly at I80 and is stepped inwardly at I82, the resulting'space-being filled by a stationary wear strip I84. When a wear strip is used, the wear strip overlies the outer edge of the cap, and the wear strip may be so proportioned as to help bear downwardly on the cap and to insure good seating of the same on the can. In such case, however, it isevident that the wear strip, which is stationarily mounted on the top plateIZD of the valve assembly, u

should be so located that it is reached by-the caps only after they have been depressed by the jaws, for otherwise there would be interference between the caps and the wear strip. This problem arises only, of course, on the incoming side 7 of the valve, there being nocapsin the outgoing side.

The outeredge of the cap then occupies a space represented by the outward step I80 on the turret, but this step does not interfere with the cap, because it exists only on the parts of the turret between the can pocketsthe turret being wholly cut away at the can pockets.

The elevator and associated mechanism The elevator E is mounted on top of the valve;

I and is driven by the valve. shaft H4, or more specifically, by a cam mounted on the upper end of said shaft. Referring to Figs. 9 and 21, the

turret shaft II4 carries a cylindrical cam I86 on its exposed upper end. This operates a cam roller I88 carried by an arm I90 which is mounted on a pin I92 supported in a stationary bearing I94 the base I98 of which is secured to the top of the valve housing. The opposite end of pin is pivotallyconnected to a. bearing 200- formed at the upper 'end of a. plate-like elevator 202 which is vertically reciprocable in bearings 204. It will be evident that rotation of cam I88may be used to produce vertical movement of the elevator 202,-and that the cam I86 preferably has five movements for each rotation, so that the elevator will be depressed once for each can (there being five pockets to a turret).

Referring now to Fig. 22, the elevator plate 202 is-formed with a pair of support fingers 206 at its lower end. These are so spaced as to receive and support a cap delivered thereto by the transfer turret. The support fingers 208 are disposed at the ends of a'diameter approximately perpendicular to the points where the jaws of the valve. grip the cover, and there is accordingly no .20 movement entirely independent of the rising and .confiict therebetween. The jaw arms are shaped tween the support fingers.

If desired, the support fingers may be springpressed in order to gripthe covers with a frictional grip. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24, referring to which it will be seen that the elevator plate 208 is provided with support fingers 2 I0 pivoted at 2I2 and acted upon by compression springs at 2 I4. It will be evident that this arrangement will operate in the same manner as the elevator shown in Fig. 22,except that a better grip on the cap is assured.

If desired, the supp rt fingers may be springpressed, yet positively released by cam means when being carried away by the jaws. Such an arrangement is shown in Figs. 25 and 26, referring'towhich it will be seen that the elevator plate. 2I6 is provided with cap support fingers 2I8 pivoted at 220 and normally acted upon by compression springs 222. The upper ends of the fingers are biased to form Wedge-like camming surfaces 224 which may be acted upon by mating sloping ends on vertically reciprocable'rods 226.

The upper ends of these rods are connected to the outer ends of levers 228, said levers being fulcrumed at 230, and having ball-shaped inner ends 232 which are received in a yoke 234 formed at one end of anarm 236 (Fig. 26)- which is mounted above and extends. collaterally of the arm 238. Arm 238 correspondsto the arm I98 shown in Fig. 21, and is pivoted at 240 and actuated by cam follower roller 242 just as was previously described. Arm 236 is similarly pivoted at 244 and acted upon by a cam follower roller 246. The cylindrical cam 248 is provided with two cam grooves 250 and 252. The groove 250 is the regular cam for reciprocating the elevator 2I6. The cam 252 has a generally similar cam track so that for the most part, the linkage controlling the jaws follows the elevator without relative movement. However, by providing a slight departure in the tracks at any desired point, the

I-92 carries an arm, I 98. the forward end of which '75 finger-controlling linkage may be moved relative to the elevator, and downward movement of the rods '26 will obviously release the cap support fingers 2 I 8. Such a releaseis preferably provided at the instant when the jaws of the valve have seized the cap and are moving the same from between the support 'fingers.

In order to bring the caps in registry over the cans in the valve, the elevator should receive and lower each cap as its mating can body is moved into the valve pocket. For this purpose, the cap is. preferably fed to the elevator somewhat ac tate ahead ofthe can body. vFor purposes" of design simplicity,. the timing of the maQhine maybe made such that the caps; are supplied to, the

transfer; turret substantially synchronously with the, cans, the caps then .being accelerated some: W-hatas, theyare. moved; by; thetransfer. turretto movingthe can; and the, cap, be movedjtogether by a singlecam. This is the construction which has already been described in connection with Fig. 4' showing the cap-movingfinger. '54. on the same spindle 56 as thecan-moving finger:5.2.- The mannerin which. the desired gain =or acceleration is obtained, will be clear from inspection of the elevator. Again for the.-,sa-l-re of simplicity, it is-desirable that the fingers on the transferturret Ei g. .10, inwhich it .Willbeneen. that; finger 54 is displaced 'or advanced relative to finger .52,- thus delivering the-cap. 256 ahead of the 08,11 258; The

Hatter is being received in valve turret pocketi-fifl',

while-the cover .is in: the, elevator, -not :shownin .Fig.'10-. Thepvalveturret rotates as the elevator descends; thus bringing the jaws 2G2 (.Fi'g. 10) around toproper position to receive cover-256 from the elevator. The :cap isfirst de-.

=l-iv'ered by the; cap feed mechanism to the broken line-position 256', vvhereit isQenEagedbywtIme the can 258 the latter being" moved bytransfer turret pocket 264 As the transfer turret revolves the ca-pis moved-to position-2'56 when the finger is imposition 54" andthe "can is ---moved to posi-' tion 258" hy-finge-r 52-". The guides are omitted in Fig. 10, but Fig. 9 clearly shows the spaced guides or tracksfl'e for the cover, saidtracks leading from the coverieedmechanism C to the elevator E. I

The manner in which the upper fingers 54 avoid interferenc e'withi the cover guide track 210, will be clear from inspection of Fig; 13; in

which it will be seen tha'tthe finger 5'4 underlies the track2ll1, and is provided with anfu'pjwa'rd projection 212 for engaging the cap. 'HThefc an body may beguided by an outside guide 214" and is moved by the finger 52; The tracks '2llljmay1 be connected atspaced points by 'one orrnoretop hraces ll'fi, said braces'clearihg the path of travel vof the caps.

Referringz to Fig, 9,.there is no interference between ,the fingers and the the fingers begin to move inwardly ;or toward the ;-left as seen in Fig.9, asso'on as'the cap is .fingeril'; The finger SZ neednot yet enga'ge elevator E; because int th ,;turr et pocket to thelevel of the jaws,

it this time are in their raisedposi'tion;

1'1 (the jaws..haver--c1osed;to; grip the he (cover; at thistime being disposed dir t ri a E13; l9 he :turret has continued its move rewa h ht. Q u ina he iawssto arry out vof. the supnort fingers, of the clatter remaining in depressedpositurret. f continued .movement of the turret; At thesame t me Je s 'I- h desc n t 1 P the can .2134 againstthe. upperyedge of the. can 282. I Ihemre eire exer ed i su e t to prevent any escape ofi contents from the can,,,but, of course,

there is no.eifec tive sea-ling action such as; would prevent extraction of air. from the can; This is SQalQQEQfiUSe the cap has not; been seamed; to :the jb dy, and there is accordingly no ,efiective seal such; as would; withstand the, highdegree ct, vacuum, maintained in the: vacuum seaming eawacrZng. 1, it will be recognized that therezi's adequate time for the-jaws to:depress. thecoventothe can heforejthe. valve pocket is exposed to; the suction of the--- vac-uumizin:g

V increment-mt I'he sear-niIrgturret S bestshow-n in Fig. 8:

re-may be a inultiple spindle turret of any suitable y ie leut that here-shown employsplanej tary gearing of the character disclosed "in my pne- 'Patent xfNb; 1,98935'18; issued-January 2'9;

. 1935. "Briefly; power-isapplied-to pulley-1E8;

and-its'sha'ft zfl 'turnsthe' vertical drive shaft zaz-a'mmgila--we'rmcerami-imamgear. Shaft ran urns -a sun' gear v296 meshin with-planet gear 288' is turnmesh with 'a stationary ring 7 shaft-=292 car-r'y'the seaming turret with in the support fingers of the elevator, andthis inward movement of the feedfirigeritmay-be;so

regulated by the shape of the controllingcarng that. the-finger will clear the elevator Without mutual interference. The guide 210,; of rcourse,

terminates. at apoint 21 I which affords adequate clearance .for the desired retraction of fingeri54r.

The action of the valve jaws in taking the cap from theelevator and pressingit on th'e can, will be clear from ins-pection of F-igs. llthrough In Fig; 14; the valve pocket 218 and the;

-20. jaws are stillempty, these parts moving with the valve toward the rightrelative to the stationary In Fig. l5-thexvalve has moved further toward thewright, and has received a can 282. Atthe same time, the elevator has receivedja cap-28:4.

and do not interfere with its movement.

In 16 the. turret has moved further to} tiony :lting in-fa very slow'relative'movement mo in cam; 3l-2",; thus causing the desired inwardv elevator E. Thelatter is also empty; the can not 'having'been delivered to the elevator'as yet.

"The elevator and cap are above thevalve' turret,

' whichin gear: 380.? "Planet gears 2-98 revolve about thm i lanet gears 302*rotate with the-planet gears 298 and mesh-with a ring-gear eill'whic'h ran ed-o he" turret and with a-su gear-3u6 'rot'ate'sth eaming'head- Meat s peed.=- 'A similar set of planetary gearing of slightlydifl-ererrt ratio is provided (the planet flgea or Which-*is indicated at-Sill) in order to prodne'e a" slightly different 'high:"speed rotaard' movement for the first and second eamin rolis; one ofjwhichis indicated The se'aming heads are not vertically retiil l b cablelf The cans areca rriedon vertically reciproc-able cantables 316;. these being raised and loweredj by a'stationary ca'm 3'|8;1 The cap isheld tightly on the can body during the seam- I ing operation .byjmean's' cfga cnucksza: A .knocke mit 322 is. carried at the lowerend of'aj rod 321;,

theunperfendof which cooperates with the stationary am'32B'..;

"Theaction is: conventional that the. cans @Iejtransferred from the valve 'V 1 1) to the turrets as the valve pocket andseaming station ward the right, andwtheelevator has descended, iconic 'to'a conunorincent'er iThevjaws. J or th valve open and move out of the way in time to avoid interference with the rapidly spinning seaming rolls, which at this time are above the jaws because the can table 3l6 (Fig. 8) is in-lowered position. Th can table then rises,-thus causing the chuck 320 to hold the cap onthe can, following which'the first and then the second sets of rolls move inwardly to scam the can. The can table again descends, following which the sealed cans are guided from the turret by guide rails 328 and 330 (Figs. land 8), the cans being moved by a pocket of wheel W and being thereby transferred into the path of action of the discharge valve D. This valve employs an oil seal, as previously described, and may be provided with discharge fingers 332 mounted on spindles 334 carrying at their lower ends cam follower arms 336 (Fig. 8), the rollers 338 of which run in a stationary cam groove'340.

The wheel W is mounted at the upper end of a shaft 342, the lower end of which is provided with abevel gear 344. The discharge valve D is mounted on a shaft 346 coupled at 348 to an intermediate shaft 350 which in turn is connected to a lower shaft 352 by means of a ball clutch 354, which in turn may have associated with it an electric limit switch 356 for stopping the driving motor of th machine inthe event of a jam. Also, shaft 352 carries abevel gear 358. The'shafts 342 and 352 are driven by'vertioal drive shaft 292 through bevel gears 360, 362, 364, 344, 366, 368, and 358, with their connectin horizontal shafts 386 and 388.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, that there is a substantial number ofsets of planetary gearing in the upper part of the machine, and substantial amount of bevel gearing in the lower part of the machine. gearing must be thoroughly lubricated and may even run in an oil bath. It is accordingly de sirable to keep the upper and lower parts of the machine under atmospheric pressure instead of under vacuum, for otherwise the exhaust suction would remove all of the lubricant. v I accordingly connect the main section or exhaust pipe 310 to the seaming chamber at an intermediate point 312. I providea main upper seal 314 at a point below the planetary gearing in the upper part of the machine, but above the seaming heads. I provide a main lower seal'316 at a point above the gearing in the lower part of the machine, but below thecan tables, It will thus be evident that the can being seamed is under vacuum throughout its treatment and r The seal at 314 is produced by a large-diameter floating ring 382 preferably made of a suitable bearing material such as bronze. It is generally triangular in shape, providing a sloping lower surface which rests on a mating sloping surface on a ring 384 whichis secured'to and rotates with the turret. It will be evident that uum beneath the ring 382. The ring may be either a one-piece ringor a segmental ring with overlapped or interleaved ends.

7 Theseal at the point 316 is a plain-horizontal surface, but is effective because the thrust bearings supporting the turret-may be so adjusted All of this gear 422 carried at the lower end of shaft 22 as to leave any desired residual pressure at the seal 316, that is, a part of the weight of the turret may be used to make the seal effective. J

The drive for the turrets The manner in which the turrets are driven is schematically illustrated in Fig. 2. It has already been explained in connection with Fig. 8, how the vertical shaft 292 of the seaming turret S is geared through appropriate bevel gearing to the shaft 342, of the wheel W and the shaft 346 of the discharge valve D, the coupling taking place through short horizontal shafts 386 and 388. Similarly, the vertical shaft of theseaming turret S is geared by appropriate bevel gearing and a horizontal shaft 390, to the vertical shaft H4 of, the inlet valve.- Referring to Fig. '1, shaft .390 carries gear 392 meshing with gear 394 mounted at the lower end of a shaft 396 which is coupled to an intermediate shaft 398 by means of a ball clutch 400. A limit switch 402 may, if desired,.be associated with the ball clutch to cut off power to the driving motor of the machine in the event of a jam. Intermediate shaft 398 is coupled to the valve shaft H4 by means of a suitable coupling generally designated 404 in Fig. 6. I

The bevel gear 394 at the lower end of shaft 396 also meshes with a pinion 406 carried on a horizontal shaft 408.

Reverting to Fig. 2, the shaft 408 is geared to the upright shaft 32 of the transfer turret.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the shaft 408 carries a bevel pinion 410 meshing with a bevel pim'on 4l2 mounted on a-lowershaft 4|4. Shaft M4 is connected to shaft 32 by means of a suitable coupling generally designated 4 I 6. I

Reverting to Fig. 2, the vertical shafts ofth transfer turret are connected by suitable bevel gearing and a horizontal shaft M8 to the ver ticalshaft 22 of the indexing turret, and referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that shaft 4l8 carries a bevel pinion 420 mashing with the bevel of the indexing turret.

Reverting to Fig. 2, the vertical driving shaft 88 of thecap feeding mechanism is driven by the transfer turret through appropriate bevel gearing and a horizontal shaft 424. Referring to Fig. 5, the shaft 424 carries a bevelgear which meshes with a pinion on shaft 88.

the-ring will initially tend to seal the chamber at It will be notedthat in-this case, a step-up ratio is used, the reason for this being that the .cap feeding mechanism must rotate once for each can, or five times as fast as the. turrets having five pockets. It will be understood that the bevel gear ratios for thewheelW (Fig. l), which has only three pockets, and for the discharge valve D, which has four pockets, are appropriately modified for proper synchronous movement.

turret, its-weight resting on stationary rails "430.

The can feed mechanism -C may be swung clockwise-iabout-a support shaft'432 (Fig-s; i and 5 t This clears the way for opening ofqthe inlet valve V, which; may be'swung' away from the seaming will beflapparent from theforegoin detailed de'- scription thereof. The filledcan bodies move along "track 14 to indexing turret I, which properlyspaces the same-vand'feeds the same to the transfer "turret -T. h This carries the can bodies Itltiirnz 1'." Vacuum-seaming -apmaratus comprising. 'a p cketed transfer; turret, arot'ary vacuumvalve adjacent said turret, means to 'supply-cans to said transfer turret; means-to supply caps to said transfer turret, means on said transien -turaroundto the inlet valve V5 The can bodies'ar'es, first moved by the pockets of the-transfer turret, but toward the end" are movedandfcom trolled by the fingers 52 which move thesame into the pocketsofthevalve turret-. The caps are-fedto the transferturret,'- or moreexactl-y, tothe starting end of a special guide track. The

caps are moved along the'trackby th upper lingers 54'of ftheftrans fer turret; and are delivered tothe elevatorE somewhat ahead of the arrival of*"the can bodies and; the valvepocket The elevator descends, carrying the cap down to the level of'the valve jaws, which at thistime are in raised position. Thelaws close on the cap and the same out of the elevator," which there- 7 move upon-rises to clear the approaching parts of the valve turret. The jaws then descend and holdthecap'xfirmly on the top of the can asthe can and cap. move through the valve; They are so held when thevalve'pocket is first exposed to the seaming chamber, thus guarding against any loss or disturbance of the c'ancontents as a can is evacuated. "'The can andflcover are delivered,

to a cantab'le of thes'eamingturret, said table;

ret for ejecting cans-from s'aidtransferturret to said rotary valve, means on said transfer turret for moving the oaps to 'said*valve, cam operated means atsaidjvalve for'receiving and" positively controllably lowering the caps-toward the cans a predetermined"desiredamount, and a cam so arranged as to operate said cam-operated means positively over adesiredrange of movement.

2. Vacuum'-seam'ingapparatus comprising a pocketedftransfer turret, a rotary vacuum valve adjacent'said turret; means to supply cans to said transfer turret, means to supply caps to said" transfer turret;- cam-controlled fingers on said transfer turret for ejecting cans from said transfer turret to said rotary valve,ficam-controlled fingers onjsaid transfer turret for movingthe' caps to said valve, said'iingers moving the caps ahead of'thecans'. cam-operated means i at said valve for receiving and positively controllably lowering the' capstoward thejcans a predetermined desired amount, and a cam so arranged as to operate said cam-operated means positively over a "desired range of movement,

the movement of the caps ahead of, the cams 'affording time for lowering of'th'e caps toward the cans.

being" in lowerd position. As the seaming-tun retrevolves', th'e'can' is raised until thecap is held by the chuck, and its periphery is 4 subject'ed" to' first andsecon-d seaming operations by means of first and "second seaming The seamed rollers, all in-'a"manner-which is already commonan-d conventional with non-vacuum cans. cans are movedout of the seaming turret by means of the whee1W,'-and:-are discharged from the vacuum'chamber by means of the discharge valve D, which, of course, leadsxtota suitable discharge track, not shownin-the-drawing;

Some. of; the. advantages or the ,present seam-= g apparatus which. will ,be: apparent to..,th0s e "skilled .lin: the art, areas follows: The entire seaming operation takes ,place, in a, single machine just as is done with non-vacuum cans. No,,preliminary curling ofthe, cover to hold the same on the can is neededlfor the coveris held down on the can during vacuumization by the: [valve-carried jaws.

The vacuumization takes Place as the cans move through the valve,]and

lno special turret or time delay is required. The

3'. A:s eamihg machine comprising a pocketed transfer turret, a rotary vacuum valve adjacent ,said', turret,means to supply cans, to said transfer turret, ,meansto' supply caps to said transfer turret; fingers on said transfer turret for ejecting cans from said transfer turret to said rotary 'valve,,fin'gers onjisai'd transfer turret for moving caps to said valve, a single cam for simultaneously moving, each pair of can and cap movingjfingers said fingers being relatively different sothat the caps move ahead of the cans, cam-operated means at ,said valve for receivin and positively controllabl'y lowering the caps towardtheicans alpre'determined desired amount,

" and acamso arranged as to operate said camoperatedmeans positively over a desired range offmovement; the movement of the caps ahead of thecans affording'timefor lowering of the caps towardthe cansr s apparatus comprising a 4'. Vacuum-seaming transfer turretga rotary vacuum valve adjacent said turret, astationarily located vertically re- .ciprocahle cap-lowering devioe at. the inlet side of; said valve, stationary means reciprocably supporting said-device, means to supply cans to the transferringgthc can ,v to the valve,,a nd means valves are sealed by anoilfilm whil maintaining a desired clearance'between the turret'and I The vacuum seals within the seaming chamber'itself are so located as notfto the'valvewalls.

suloject the -gearing to vacuum, with consequent lubrication problems.

many changes and modificationsmay be'made the structure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention as sought to be dehnedinthe-following claims.

transfer turret, meansto suppl I caps ,tothe transfenturret, means carried by said turret for carried-hythe turretfor feedingthe caps. ahead of, the cans to q the cap-"lowering device, thereby affording time. for said cap-lowerin device to :lowrsaidcaps toward saidv cans while insuper- Qposedrelations; 1 ,1 p -;'5.'Va;cuum -seaming apparatus comprising a transfer turret, a rotary; vacuum valve adjacent H said turret, .a vstationarily located vertically re,- I It will be apparent that"whil "f have shownafIO- and described my invention in a preferred form,

portingsaid device,.:means' to supplyzcans to thetransfer: turret, means to supply caps tothe .transfen-turreti,cam-controlled fingers carried by :said- .transfer. turret .fortransfering the cans pocketed rotary vacuum valve adjacent said turret, a stationarily located vertically reciprocable cap-lowering device at the entrance to said valve, stationary means reciprocallysupporting said device, additional cap-lowering devices mounted on said valve at each pocket for rotation therewith, means to supply cans to the transfer turret, means to supply caps to l the transfer turret, means on said transfer turretto feed the cans to the valve and'to feed the caps to the first caplowering device, mechanism whereby said first cap-lowering device lowers the caps to. the second cap-lowering devices, and mechanism whereby the second caplowerin'g devices apply the caps to the cans as they move through the valve, and before they reach the vacuumized zone of the apparatus.

7. A vacuum-seaming machine having avacumized zone and comprising a rotary inlet vacuum valve, a stationarily located vertically reciprocable cap-lowerin device at the entrance'to said valves, the said cap-lowering device holding the edge of the cap at the ends of ,a diameter extending radiallyof the valve, said rotary inlet valve including sealing walls and a turret having can pockets which are sealed by said'sealing walls as the turret rotates, pairs of gripper fingers disposed over each of said pockets, said gripper fingers being arranged to hold a cap at the ends of a diameter extending tangentially of the valve or in the direction of movement of'the valve pocket and gripper fingers, whereby said fingers can slide the cap out of the: cap-lowering device as the valve rotates, a cam for closing and opening said fingers, and another cam ior raising and lowering said fingers, said cams causing said'fingers to receive and grip acap and toapply the same to the can as itmoves through the inlet valve, and before they reach the vacuumized zone of the machine.

8. Vacuum seaming apparatus comprising a rotary vacuum valve, said valve including a pocketed turret with top, bottom and peripheral sealing walls, said top andperipheral walls having an inlet opening, a stationarily located vertically reciprocable cap lowering device at the inlet opening-oi said valve, stationary means reciprocably supporting said device, means to supply cans through the peripheral wall opening into the valve turret, means to supply caps to the cap lowering device at a point above the valve turret, and'means to vertically reciprocate the cap lowering device in proper timedarelation to' sealing Walls, said top and peripheral walls having an inlet opening, a stationarily located vertically reciprocable cap lowering device at the inlet opening of'saidvalve, stationary means reciprocably supporting-said device, means to supply ,cansthrough the peripheral wall opening into the. valve turret, means tosupply caps to the cap lowering device at a .pointabove the valve turret, said means feeding the caps to the cap lowering device ahead of the'feed of the cans to the valve turret; and thereby affording time for said cap lowering device to lower said caps toward said cans while in superposed relation, and means to vertically reciprocate the cap lowering device in proper timed relation to the movement of the valve turret in order to feed the caps into the valve turret. v

10. Vacuum seaming apparatus comprising a rotary vacuum valve, said valve' including a pocketed turret with top, bottom and peripheral sealing walls, said top and peripheral walls having an inlet opening, astationarily located vertically reciprocable cap lowering device at the inlet opening of said valve, stationary means reciprocably supporting said device, means to supp-ly cans through the peripheral wall opening into the valve turret, means. to supply caps to the cap lowering device at a pointabove the valve turret, means-to vertically reciprocate the cap lowering device in proper timed relation to the movement of the valve turret in order to feed the caps into the valve turret, additional cap .loweringdevices mounted on said valve at each pocket for rotation therewith, said first c'ap lowering device serving to lower a cap tothat oneofthe second cap lowering devices which is located in the pocket having the can, and mechanism whereby the second cap lowering device applies the cap to the can as it moves through the valve, said mechanism holding the caps firmly but not tightly on the cansas the cansucorne into the vacuumized andgripping a cap at its peripheral edge, the edge grip of said fingers serving to minimize the vertical clearance needed beneath the seaming head chuck and lfolls as the valve turret delivers the can and cap to the seaming turret.

12. A rotary inlet'vacuum valve for a vacuum seaming machine having a'seaming turret with a seaming head including a chuck and seaming rolls, said valve serving to transfer cans and caps directly to said seaming turret, said valve including sealing walls and a pocketed turret having pocketswhich are sealed by said sealing walls as the turret rotates, each of said pockets including a pair of oppositely movable fingers for receiving and gripping a cap -'at its peripheral edge, the edge grip of said fingers serving to minimize the vertical clearance needed beneath the seaming head chuck andfrolls as the valve turret delivers thecan and cap.to the seaming turret,

means for raising and lowering said fingers, said means causing said fingers to hold the caps firmly but not tightly on the cans as the cans come into the vacuumized zone of the apparatus.

13. A rotary inlet vacuum valve for a vacuum seaming machine having a seaming turret with a seaming head including a chuck and seaming rolls, said valve serving totransfer cans and caps directly to said seaming turret, said valve including sealing walls and a pocketed turret having pockets which are sealed by said sealing wallsas the turret rotates, each of said pockets including a pairof oppositely movable fingers for receiving and gripping a cap at its peripheral edge, the edge grip of said fingers serving to minimize the vertical clearance needed beneath the seaming head chuck and rolls as the valve turret delivers the can and cap to the seaming turret, a cam for closing and opening said fingers, a second cam for positively controllably raising and lowering said fingers a predetermined desired amount, said cams causing said fingers to apply the caps to the cans and to hold the caps firmly but not tightly on the cans as the cans come into the vacuumized zone of the apparatus;

v ARTHUR G. HOPKINS. 

